Farm Bag helps local schools

The Farm Bag Fundraiser has just completed another successful season, helping to raise close to $14,000 for local schools and charity organizations. 

Running from October to February each year, the program, operated by LocalMotive Organic Delivery, distributes pre-ordered hampers of locally grown fruits and vegetables to fundraising groups from Oliver to Kelowna. This year, the program had 25 groups participate up and down the valley, with close to 500 individual participants,  and selling over 50,000 pounds of local produce from farmers in the Okanagan-Similkameen.
 
Thomas Tumbach, a farmer, initiated the program four years ago after noticing schools were looking for better ways to fundraise. 

“Farmers benefit from a guaranteed sale to subscription buyers, so they receive a fair price for their products, plus consumers gain access in winter months to fresh, local and organic produce from local farmers. Schools are looking for ways to eat healthy, and fundraise, and are getting tired of trying to sell chocolate covered almonds… this is something they can be proud of and stand behind when fundraising.” 
 
The project also gives 20 per cent of each $30 Farm Bag to fundraising committees in schools or other charities. 

Jaime Case, co-ordinator for the Uplands School parent advisory committee in Penticton, says: "Customers were really impressed with the quality and abundance in each of the monthly Farm Bags. Our PAC group was able to raise almost $700 this year, and we did it by eating fresh local and organic veggies and fruits." 
 
Valley First Credit Union's Feed the Valley charitable effort sponsored the program, supporting production and promotion costs. The program aims to expand to new groups in the Kelowna area next season. 

The idea is simple. Customers pay in advance to collect a bag of fresh produce from a designated location once a month. The sale of each bag nets a profit for the fundraising body, which acts as a distribution centre. Farmers who supply to the program benefit from advance and flexible sales in addition to receiving a higher than average return for their produce. 

The Farm Bags contain seven to 10 different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Each bag weighs approximately 20 pounds. Each month, a newsletter is included explaining what's in the bag and including recipes for using the produce.